Felipe Massa Fastest on First Day of Silverstone Test

Championship leader Felipe Massa set the fastest lap at the first day of testing at Silverstone.

The Brazilian set a time of 1.20:188 in the morning, and this remained the fastest time throughout the day.

Yet despite impressive pace whilst evaluating new aerodynamic parts, Massa's F2008 came to a halt toward the end of the session due to a mechanical problem.

Penalty-stricken McLaren Mercedes also tested new aerodynamic parts (including revised brake ducts) at the track in Northampton. Heikki Kovalainen set the second fastest time of the day...only 0.3 seconds off of the time set by Massa.

Pole Robert Kubica completed 82 laps earlier and set the third fastest time in the BMW Sauber. The Canadian Grand Prix winner was 0.8 seconds off the benchmark time.

Toyota proved how much progress they have made as they managed to set the fourth fastest time.

Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg tested for Red Bull and Williams respectively. Rosberg was above Webber on the timesheets by a tiny gap of 0.1.

Renault's young Nelson Piquet could only complete 59 laps as he was hit with gearbox and engine problems.